Airports: Security

Lord Sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether ethnic background is one of the criteria for searching or screening the luggage of those travelling into the United Kingdom at international airports.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Ethnic background is not one of the criteria used for searching or screening luggage for customs or immigration purposes of persons travelling into the United Kingdom.

Airports: Security

Lord Sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that UK Border Agency officers and other officers involved in security procedures at airports are polite and courteous to those searched.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Customer service is an integral part of the induction training for new officers and is assessed as part of the performance management process for all UKBA staff working at the border.
	Any customer who is dissatisfied with their experience of UKBA while crossing the border is encouraged to make a complaint. Ports hold a supply of How to Complain leaflets that are available to customers and explain the complaints process. All complaints are taken seriously and UKBA aims to provide a response within 20 days. Complaints can lead to a review of procedures and process, new training for staff or, in more serious matters, disciplinary action.

Airports: Security

Lord Sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is a code of conduct that officers at international airports in the United Kingdom are required to follow.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The UK Border Agency sets a high standard of personal honesty and integrity, requiring border force officers to be mindful of their personal conduct, both within and outside their official role, and they are expected to avoid any action which may bring their conduct into question. All border force officers are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code and Home Office values, and the border force is committed to achieving the customer service excellence accreditation by the end of 2012.
	Border force officers who are performing customs duties are required to have regard to the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Code A when exercising any powers to search persons and vehicles.
	There are misconduct procedures in place which are designed to ensure that the standards of conduct laid down for border force officers are adhered to. The UK Border Agency is committed to ensuring that these procedures are based on the principles of natural justice and are applied fairly and equally to everyone.

Airports: Security

Lord Sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government what procedures are in force to monitor the conduct of and behaviour of officers searching persons travelling into the United Kingdom at international airports.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Border force standards were launched in April 2010 with the purpose of ensuring the border force is compliant with agreed policies and procedures, to ensure consistency of approach across the business and to give clarity to staff and managers on what is expected of them and what they can expect of others. Misconduct by an officer would be dealt with under the general misconduct procedure which is to be followed in all cases of suspected or alleged misconduct.
	The Independent Police Complaints Commission has a remit to oversee serious complaints, incidents and conduct matters in relation to the exercise of police-like powers by border force officers.

Apprenticeships

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the number of, and funding for, apprenticeship schemes.

Baroness Wilcox: We are committed to increasing the number of genuine, high-quality, employer-owned apprenticeships based on real jobs in the workplace. Apprenticeships are a proven way for individuals to gain the skills they need to succeed and progress in their careers, and for employers to build a workforce with the motivation and expertise they need to gain a competitive edge.
	On 24 May we announced our intention to redeploy £150 million of Train to Gain funding into adult apprenticeships to create 50,000 more apprenticeship places. This redeployment is in addition to an apprenticeship budget for the 2010-11 financial year of £1,178 million (£780 million for 16-18 year-olds), compared with £1,085 million (forecast) spend for 2009-10.
	Future funding decisions will be subject to the outcome of the comprehensive spending review.

Apprenticeships

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what provision they make for apprenticeships for older people.

Baroness Wilcox: Adult learning is a priority for this Government. There is much we can do to ensure that the beneficial power of adult learning reaches everyone, building stronger communities, stronger business and a bigger society.
	We are committed to creating more and better quality apprenticeships for both young people and adults as an important route to skilled and secure employment. Changing demographics and the need to maintain and improve skill levels in the workforce means that it is vital that we continue to invest in the existing workforce, as well as training the next generation. Our decision to redeploy £150 million to create 50,000 new adult apprenticeship places demonstrates our commitment to high-quality, employer-led skills for older people.
	Since the removal of the upper age limit, the adult apprenticeship programme has seen tremendous growth. There was so great a demand for adult places that supply was not able to meet demand and numbers of places were capped. Demand from employers for adult apprenticeships remains very high and adult numbers continue to increase. Our decision will mean that many more older learners are able to benefit from the opportunities offered by high-quality apprenticeships.
	167,000 adult apprenticeship starts are currently planned in the 2010-11 academic year. Plans for adult apprenticeships for 2011-12 will be confirmed in the autumn.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will enable unsuccessful asylum applicants who cannot be returned to their countries of origin to work legally.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The Government believe it is important to maintain a distinction between economic migration and asylum. Therefore there are currently no plans to allow failed asylum seekers who have exhausted their appeal rights to take up employment.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will issue an asylum policy instruction following the judgment of the Supreme Court in HJ (Iran) (FC) v Secretary of State for the Home Department and HJ (Cameroon) (FC) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; and whether they will review decisions by the UK Border Agency which may be incompatible with that judgment.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Asylum decision-makers were instructed to apply the new test contained in the judgment immediately after the judgment was published. They have also been asked to review, in the light of the new test, cases in which a decision has already been made but in which appeal rights have not yet been exhausted.
	There will not be an automatic review of cases where appeal rights have been exhausted but individuals are able to ask for their case to be reviewed in light of the new judgment.
	An asylum policy instruction will be published within the next few months. This will reflect the judgment and we will develop better training to promote understanding of sexual orientation and identity issues in order to help decision-makers to decide on the basis of the best available information and knowledge.

Banks: Lending

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what would be the likely effect of increasing the liquidity ratio of banks and other financial institutions on (a) lending by banks to industry, and (b) the availability of mortgages.

Lord Sassoon: The Financial Services Authority and the Bank of England are working with other members of the Basel Committee of Banking Supervisors to assess the impact of the proposed changes in liquidity requirements. These assessments will duly inform the calibration and timing of reform with a view to ensuring that the benefits of a safer financial sector to the wider economy clearly exceed the potential costs of increased regulatory requirements.
	The Government will also be publishing a Green Paper on business finance before the Summer Recess. The paper will consider the broad range of finance options for business of different sizes including bank lending, equity and corporate debt, to ensure that the banking system and financial markets meet the needs of the economy in the long term.

Banks: Lending

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the deductibility of interest against taxable profits by corporate borrowers on the levels of borrowing and on the failure of certain banks.

Lord Sassoon: Companies' decisions on financing their business depend on a number of important factors including interest rates, the availability of credit and the prevailing economic conditions. The availability of tax relief for interest is an additional factor taken into account in this decision.

Broadcasting: Digital Radio

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of radio listeners use a digital radio; what percentage of people in the United Kingdom are not able to receive digital radio signals; when full digital radio coverage will be available; and whether they propose to commission research to test levels of digital radio listening by Radio Joint Audience Research.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: Around 90 per cent of the population have access to digital radio via DAB, and the Government are currently working with the industry to agree a plan for further rollout of DAB. As part of this process, Ofcom is conducting an independent review of both current FM and DAB coverage and will make recommendations to the Secretary of State. Digital radio is also available via digital TV and online platforms.
	Figures from Radio Joint Audience Research (RaJAR) for the first quarter of 2010 indicate that 24 per cent of total listening is to digital. The Government have no current plans to test the digital radio listening figures produced by RaJAR.

Broadcasting: Digital Switchover

Lord Tanlaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will propose that the National Physical Laboratory's Time Measurement Department assists the BBC in providing an accurate time signal to digital radio listeners once analogue broadcasts have ended.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The Government have no plans to propose the mechanisms for providing an accurate time signal on the BBC's digital radio services. This is a matter for the BBC.

Control Orders

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reform control orders.

Baroness Neville-Jones: On 13 July 2010 my right honourable friend the Home Secretary made a Statement in the House of Commons announcing that a rapid review of counterterrorism and security powers, including the use of control orders, is under way. The Home Secretary will report back to Parliament on the outcome of the review after Summer Recess.

Crime: Domestic Violence

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will maintain the level of funding for Independent Domestic Violence Advisor services; and, in deciding their funding, whether they will take into account their role in the effective functioning of multi-agency risk assessment conferences.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Government funding for independent domestic violence advisers will continue during 2010-11. Funding for future years will be considered as part of the comprehensive spending review and all the functions of an IDVA will be taken into account.

Crime: Domestic Violence

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect high-risk victims of domestic abuse and their children in areas where local authorities have cut funding for them.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The Home Office has provided £3.5 million in 2010-11 to contribute to funding of independent domestic violence advisers, multi-agency risk assessment conferences and some wider work to address violence against women. It is, however, for local areas to ensure that they have sufficient services for all victims of domestic violence.

Cybercrime

Lord Harris of Haringey: To ask Her Majesty's Government who would co-ordinate the response to a sophisticated cyber-attack on United Kingdom financial systems.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Through the Office of Cyber Security, the Cabinet Office has a strategic role in UK cyber security to ensure that there is a co-ordinated response across government which protects core systems and networks, including key financial systems, from cyber attack.
	This involves the monitoring of cyberspace, providing situational awareness for central government and co-ordinating the national response by the Cyber Security Operations Centre, supporting investigative and enforcement actions through the Home Office and Serious Organised Crime Agency and working with the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) which provides advice on electronic or cyber protective security measures to the businesses and organisations that comprise the UK's critical national infrastructure, including public utilities companies and financial institutions.

Education: Funding

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to replace the Building Schools for the Future scheme.

Lord Hill of Oareford: On Monday 5 July the Education Secretary announced that he is bringing an end to the Building Schools for the Future programme and launching a review of capital investment. The review will examine the department's capital programmes and make recommendations on the future shape of its capital investment from 2011-12 onwards.
	The aim of the review is to ensure that future capital investment represents good value for money and strongly supports the Government's ambitions to raise standards and tackle disadvantage. A forward plan for capital investment over the next spending review period will be produced by the end of the calendar year.

Electoral System

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the functioning of the electoral system for elections to the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and London Assembly and their suitability for use in the United Kingdom as a whole.

Lord McNally: The systems referred to by the noble Lord are additional member systems which include a single member constituency elected by first-past-the-post. They are supplemented by additional members who do not have a constituency but are elected as top-ups to make the result more proportional. The Government have made no assessment of the suitability of these systems for use in elections for the UK as a whole.

Government Departments: Chief Scientific Adviser

Lord Rooker: To ask Her Majesty's Government which departments do not have a chief scientific adviser.

Baroness Wilcox: All main science-using departments with the exception of HM Treasury now have a Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA). The Government Chief Scientific Adviser acts as CSA to the Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet Office.
	Departments which do not have a CSA are:
	Ministerial Departments
	Attorney-General's Office;Government Equalities Office;Northern Ireland Office;Office of the Advocate-General for Scotland;Office of the Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal Office of the Leader of the House of Lords;Scotland Office;HM Treasury; andWales Office.
	Non-Ministerial Departments
	Charity Commission for England and Wales;Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt Crown Estate;Crown Prosecution Service;Government Actuary's DepartmentHM Revenue & Customs National Savings and Investments;National School of Government;Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Schools (Ofsted) Office of Fair Trading; Office of Gas and Electricity Markets;Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual);Office of Rail Regulation, Office of Water Services, Postal Services Commission, Public Works Loan Board, Royal Mint;Serious Fraud Office; andUK Statistics Authority, UK Trade and Investment.

Government Departments: Expenditure Cuts

Lord Barnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 24 June (WA 205), what discussions the Chancellor of the Exchequer has had with the Governor of the Bank of England about the effect on staff levels in government departments of the proposed expenditure cuts announced on 24 May.

Lord Sassoon: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Higher Education: Overseas Students

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many educational institutions which did not qualify for automatic inclusion as a highly trusted sponsor and were at 30 April A-rated sponsors applied for a highly trusted sponsor licence; how many such applications were granted; and how many were declined.

Baroness Neville-Jones: We have received 422 applications from tier 4 sponsors who were not automatically deemed highly trusted. Of these, 353 were received before 30 April and 69 after the 30 April. Of these, we have granted 161, refused 37 and rejected 10. The remaining applications are under consideration.
	All applications for highly trusted sponsorship must come from A-rated sponsors. Any B-rated sponsors who apply will be automatically refused.

Housing Benefit

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether details of direct or indirect payments to landlords of local housing allowance and housing benefit are available to HM Revenue and Customs; and, if not, whether they will consider deducting tax at source when direct payments of those benefits are made.

Lord Sassoon: Local authorities administer housing benefit. Under the local housing allowance rules, they have discretion to make payment to the landlord if they consider that the tenant is unable to manage their financial affairs, or otherwise unlikely to pay their rent. Payment to the landlord is mandatory in cases where a tenant has built up rent arrears of eight weeks or more, or is having deductions from their income support, employment and support allowance, or jobseeker's allowance, to pay off rent arrears.
	The rental income received by private landlords is dealt with under long-established tax rules. HM Revenue and Customs is able to issue a statutory notice under part of the Taxes Management Act to local authorities requiring a return of housing benefit payments they have made to landlords, to help identify non-declarations of income. This information is collected retrospectively and used to consider tax inquiries in appropriate cases.

Immigration

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of cuts to International Organisation for Migration programmes, including the withdrawal of the Assisted Voluntary Return for Irregular Migrants programme, on single adults and the local authorities and voluntary sector organisations supporting them, in the absence of an alternative independent voluntary return programme.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The level of funding from Her Majesty's Government to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for assisted voluntary return has not been cut and remains at the same level as last year.
	The option of an assisted voluntary return arranged through IOM remains for recognised victims of trafficking, those in the asylum process, including failed asylum seekers and for families and unaccompanied minors whether irregular migrants or in the asylum process.
	Any other person with no lawful basis to remain in the United Kingdom has the opportunity to make a voluntary departure or to engage with the UK Border Agency which will arrange for their removal. Voluntary returns are always preferable to enforced returns but if people do not leave voluntarily, they are liable to have their return enforced.

Immigration: Deportation

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Jones on 30 June (WA 287), for which terrorist offences committed by foreign nationals might there be no threat to national security posed such that deportation action would not necessarily be pursued.

Baroness Neville-Jones: An assessment of whether a person represents a threat to our national security is made on the basis of an assessment of all the available information, and does not depend on the person having been convicted for a particular offence.
	An example of an offence under the Terrorism Acts which carries a maximum penalty of less than 12 months is that of displaying an article in such a way as to suggest membership of or support for a proscribed organisation. A foreign national convicted of such an offence who received a custodial sentence would not normally be considered for deportation by reason of that conviction alone.
	As I explained in my previous Answer, where a foreign national represents a threat to our national security, the UK Border Agency will seek to deport him or her for that reason, irrespective of whether or not the person concerned has been convicted of any offence. In cases where a foreign national has been convicted in the UK of a terrorist offence, but is not considered to be a threat to national security, then deportation action would normally only be taken if a custodial sentence of 12 months or longer were imposed for the offence or the individual were recommended for deportation by the sentencing judge.

Immigration: Detainees

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance is given to the UK Border Agency on informing consulates when foreign nationals are detained; and whether there have been instances when consulates were not so informed.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Such guidance is provided in Chapter 31 of the Immigration Directorate Instructions and Chapter 55 of the Enforcement Instructions and Guidance.
	The guidance requires that all persons who are detained be asked whether they wish to contact their high commission or consulate. Those who wish to are given the means to do so. Where a person is likely to be detained beyond 24 hours he is required to be asked if he wishes his high commission or consulate to be notified on his behalf.
	The UK also has a bilateral consular convention relating to detention with a number of countries. The convention imposes an obligation on detaining authorities to notify consular representatives of a detainee even if the detainee has not requested this. An exception to this requirement is where there is or has been an asylum claim or a suggestion that one might be forthcoming.
	There is no bar to detainees being in a position to contact their high commission or consulate at any time during their detention.
	Details of whether or not notifications have been made in individual cases are not held centrally.

Immigration: Detention Centres

Baroness Stern: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK Border Agency will review procedures which can lengthen the time asylum applicants spend in immigration detention at Heathrow Airport, as illustrated in the report of the Independent Monitoring Board on the immigration detention centres at Heathrow Airport published on 23 March.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The UK Border Agency has produced an action plan which addresses each of the concerns and recommendations in the annual report of the Heathrow independent monitoring board. The agency will continue to regularly update the board on progress.
	It is a priority of the UK Border Agency to reduce the lengths of stay in immigration detention at Heathrow Airport. Length of stay within holding rooms at Heathrow are continually reviewed and addressed at regular meetings with those who have an interest in this part of our work.
	Cases involving families and unaccompanied children are already prioritised. Unaccompanied children and young persons are referred to children's services as soon as possible after arrival and are only kept in holding room family facilities in exceptional circumstances, usually for their safety, while alternative arrangements for their care are made.
	Improvements have been made since the publication of the report to provide applicants with timely access to interpreting services and to address any process issues about the opening hours of the asylum intake unit. The agency and its contractor are working closely to implement a more flexible arrangement for the timing of Transport Plus collections from holding rooms at Heathrow.

Justice: Arrest Warrants

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent the United Kingdom from attracting persons with arrest warrants for them in their home countries for alleged offences which are also offences in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Neville-Jones: All people entering the United Kingdom are checked at the border against the UK Border Agency's watch list. The watch list currently includes persons sought for extradition purposes where a European arrest warrant or extradition request has been certified by UK authorities. These individuals will also be flagged on the police national computer, which means that if they come to police attention they can be arrested. Where a person has already entered the UK and is sought either for prosecution or the enforcement of a sentence of detention, the UK has extensive extradition relations with countries around the world to ensure that they can be extradited to the requesting country.

Museums and Galleries

Lord Freyberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are planning to review the policy of free access to national museums and galleries.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: We have no plans to review the policy of free admission to the national museums and galleries.

National Identity Register

Lord Rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of cancelling the National Identity Register on the e-borders scheme.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The assessment of the UK Border Agency is that cancelling the national identity register will have no impact on the operation of the e-Borders scheme.

Northern Ireland Office: Staff

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government why only Belfast-based staff of the Northern Ireland Office receive an environmental allowance of £287 per annum; and whether it will continue.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: Following negotiations in 1992 the revised environmental allowance was paid to all Northern Ireland Office (NIO) staff based in Northern Ireland in recognition of their work in the law and order field.
	Following the devolution of policing and justice powers the continued payment of this allowance is being reviewed.

Northern Ireland Office: Staff

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements there are for accommodation for staff of the Northern Ireland Office living in Northern Ireland; and how it is funded.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: Accommodation is not provided for Northern Ireland-based staff working for the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).
	Where London-based staff are required to work in Belfast, rental accommodation may be provided. It is paid for by the relevant business area.

Office for Budget Responsibility

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government , further to the answer by Lord Sassoon on 6 July (Official Report, col. 94) saying that Sir Alan Budd had always planned to leave the Office for Budget Responsibility in the summer, why the interim nature of his role was not announced at the time of its announcement; and why it was not reflected in his letter of appointment dated 13 May.

Lord Sassoon: The Chancellor's letter to Sir Alan Budd, which was published on 8 June, was clear that Sir Alan Budd had been appointed chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility for an interim period.
	Clause 6.1 of Sir Alan Budd's 13 May letter of appointment, which is available on the Treasury's website, states "you will begin the service on 13.5.2010 and will continue for a period of three months ...".

Olympic Games

Lord Bates: To ask Her Majesty's Government what initiatives they took in response to signing United Nations General Assembly Resolution 62/4 of 31 October 2007 about observing the Olympic Truce and promoting "peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the Olympic Games period".
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what initiatives they took in response to signing United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/8 of 3 November 2005 about observing the Olympic Truce and promoting "peace during and beyond the Olympic Games period".
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what initiatives they took in response to signing United Nations General Assembly Resolution 58/6 of 3 November 2003 about observing the Olympic Truce and promoting "peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the Olympic Games period".
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what initiatives they took in response to signing United Nations General Assembly Resolution 56/75 of 11 December 2001 about observing the Olympic Truce.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what initiatives they took in response to signing United Nations General Assembly Resolution 54/34 of 24 November 1999 about observing the Olympic Truce and promoting "peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict, beyond the Olympic Games period".
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what initiatives they took in response to signing United Nations General Assembly Resolution 52/21 of 25 November 1997 about observing the Olympic Truce.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The resolutions that the noble Lord refers to were tabled, in the UN General Assembly, by the respective host country in advance of their Games. The Government fully support the work of the United Nations and specifically supported these resolutions to demonstrate our support for the ambitions of the respective host countries. While each resolution reflects the specific ambitions of the individual host country, they represent a consistent ideal, "to use sport to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict". The Government believe that the benefits of sport can have a positive influence on both individuals and nations and we support the promotion of this positive message.

Parliamentary Constituencies

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the target number of registered electors in the average constituency under their proposal for a House of Commons of 600 seats.

Lord McNally: As my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister said in his Statement in another place on 5 July (Official Report, col. 24), the legislation we are putting forward will:
	"require the Boundary Commissions to set new constituencies within 5 per cent of a target quota of registered electors, with just two exceptions: Orkney and Shetland, and the Western Isles, which are uniquely placed, given their locations. ...We have listened also to those who have very large constituencies, so the Bill will provide that no constituency will be larger than the size of the largest one now'"
	The quota will be calculated by dividing the total electorate of the United Kingdom from the register published on 1 December 2010 by the number of remaining seats (excluding the electorates of the excepted Scottish island seats which will be taken away from the total electorate). If the register from 1 December 2009 were used, the electoral quota for the UK would be around 76,000.

Pedlars

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider amending the Pedlars Act 1871 to remove the four-week residency requirement and so satisfy the European Union Services Directive by removing the restriction on eligibility for European Union residents seeking access to the profession of pedlary in the United Kingdom.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they propose to introduce a single point of contact for the issuing of pedlars certificates to comply with the European Union Services Directive; and whether the single point of contact will meet the validation requirement by local authorities of certified pedlars in their jurisdiction.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they propose to amend Schedule 4 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 to bring it into compliance with the requirements of the European Union Services Directive relating to authorisation schemes.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to reverse the amendment to the Pedlars Act 1871 made by the Provision of Services Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2999) on the basis that the amendment imperfectly transposed the European Union Services Directive.

Baroness Wilcox: The Government are currently considering a variety of options concerning the future of street trader licensing and pedlar certification. Any proposals for change will take into account the UK's obligation to ensure that the services directive is correctly applied in this area.

Smoking

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the British Board of Film Classification about its role in protecting children and young people from tobacco imagery in films.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: Consistent with the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) guidelines, any film that appeals to children in which smoking features to a significant extent will carry an indication of this in the consumer advice and/or extended classification information. In addition, the promotion or glamorisation of smoking in a film will lead to a higher level of classification. We are satisfied that these measures adequately safeguard younger viewers so there has been no need for further intervention.
	Statutory responsibility for the classification of cinema films ultimately lies with local authorities, which are free to change the BBFC's recommended classification if they wish.